Following the Trump–Xi meeting in mid-May, officials in both the United States and China started describing bilateral ties as "a constructive relationship of strategic stability." However, both countries have different views of what this term means and its implications for U.S.-China relations. While the United States does not see a large difference between "strategic stability" and its other recent approaches to China, China views this new term as an acknowledgement of its superpower status on the global stage. Is the U.S.-China relationship entering a new phase or is this simply a new rhetorical framing?

Victor Shih joined us on July 9, 2026 to discuss the way the United States and China view their relationship with each other after the Trump-Xi meeting in May.

Read the speaker's bio on our website.

U.S. companies in China are navigating a widening gap between opportunity and risk. Even as profitability rebounds and China remains critical to companies' global competitiveness, escalating tariffs, tightening export controls, and a fragile trade truce are forcing American businesses to rethink how —and whether— they operate there.

In this conversation on August 3, National Committee President Steve Orlins interviews Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council (USCBC), about USCBC's recently released 2026 Member Survey of 175 American companies doing business in China. Mr. Stein discusses why companies continue to view China as essential despite mounting headwinds, including bilateral tariffs, Chinese export controls on rare earths, and rising competition from increasingly capable Chinese firms. He also addresses the outlook for the U.S.-China trade truce, which is set to expire in November, and what American businesses say is needed from both governments to stabilize the relationship.

About the speaker

Why does the United States rely on China for critical minerals and what are the economic and security implications of this interdependence? From fighter jets to fridges, critical minerals are everywhere, shaping the global economy and our daily lives. Today, China dominates many points along critical mineral supply chains, such as mining and refining, following decades of intentional industrial policy. After years of relying on Chinese companies for these vital inputs, the United States has grown uncomfortable with its dependence on China for critical minerals. This economic chokehold became evident when Washington imposed tariffs and advanced chip export controls on China, causing Beijing to restrict rare earth exports to the United States – jeopardizing economic stability and galvanizing U.S. efforts to build up alternative, China-free supply chains. How realistic is completely decoupling critical mineral dependence from China?

Cory Combs joined us on July 23, 2026, to discuss the reasons behind and implications of the United States' critical mineral chokepoints with China.

Learn more about the speaker and watch the video here.